Vikings, Trump cards and baby fans: The 10 biggest viral moments of the World Cup 2026

From Erling Haaland's social media domination to the controversial Trump card and Lamine Yamal's little brother Keyne going viral online, Euronews Culture rounds up the 10 biggest viral moments from the 2026 World Cup. The 2026 World Cup is about to end, with two more matches left to play. Tomorrow sees France face England to secure the third-spot, while the final on Sunday will see Argentina battle it out against Spain. It's been memorable tournament co-hosted by United States, Canada and Mexico, with plenty of moments going viral online. Some for the right reasons, others much less so. While Japanese fans cleaning up stadiums, Scottish food requests, and Erling Haaland being a gem of a man have provided much joy, some celebrations were overshadowed by scandals even before kick off. There's been exorbitant ticket prices which made the tournament look like an elitist shambles; concerns raised over FIFA’s supposed political neutrality when Gianni Infantino awarded FIFA's inaugural Peace Price to Donald Trump; Infantino's use of a private jet to attend two games per day, thereby adding to what the New Weather Institute described as “the most polluting event ever”... It's been a mixed bag, leading many fans and social media users to wonder whether FIFA as an organisation may be ruining the festivities by bringing the culture of football into disrepute, and if the 2026 World Cup has been one of the most controversial in recent memory. Here is Euronews Culture's round up of the 10 biggest viral moments from the 2026 World Cup - the good and the bad. WORST: Referee rejection An early controversy which prompted international outcry was the ousting of Somali referee Omar Artan, who was questioned by immigration officials for 11 hours before being denied entry to the US. The 34-year-old was set to become the first man from his country to play an on-pitch role at the finals but was turned away by border officials in Miami – despite holding a diplomatic passport and a single-entry US visa. Artan, who was named the best male referee in Africa last year, had been hailed as "a symbol of inspiration for the new generation of Somalis" by the country's President Hassan Mohamud. His exclusion was seen as a stain on the World Cup and FIFA, who stated that they were powerless to intervene. "A host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country," they said in a statement, before FIFA president Gianni Infantino told everyone to "chill" regarding the controversy. The unfortunate incident highlighted not only the ruthlessness of the travel ban list introduced by Donald Trump's administration but also quite how FIFA’s supposed political neutrality only applies when Trump isn't asking for red cards to be revoked. More on that later... BEST: Scotland takes over The Tartan Army sure know how to party. "No Scotland, no party," as the ditty goes. Scotland fans' antics became one of the big viral stories when they took over Boston. Videos circulated of Scots putting traffic cones on statues' heads, drinking bars dry, and generally winning over locals with their friendliness and humour. They even managed to make haggis legal again. More of this please. WORST: "Hydration" breaks One grating concern which gained traction this year was the controversial "hydration breaks". The jarring introduction of mandatory stoppages midway through each half was presented as necessary for player welfare. No one was convinced and fans continued to greet the four-quarter format more readily associated with American sports with loud boos. Players and coaches spoke out against the way the games were altered by the new structure, and many called out Infantino for what they perceived to be the underlying financial motivations behind the drink break imposition. Critics argue that they are a shameless way of inserting advertising and only function as a money-grabbing scheme. Sadly, the current head of FIFA has said that the governing body will consider keeping hydration breaks for future World Cups, despite the viral backlash. And when they do inevitably rule to continue with these interruptions, it’s worth keeping in mind that broadcasters will be chomping at the bit when it comes to live rights... BEST: Cape Verde stuns Always root for the underdog. This year, Cape Verde put on a performance that won everyone's hearts - notably, standing up to Spain and Uruguay and making them draw 0-0 and 2-2 respectively. The Blue Sharks played their first World Cup this year, becoming the smallest country by land area (and the second least populated) to qualify. They sadly lost to Argentina 3-2 in Round 32, but everyone was astonished by how quickly they established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in world football. Their veteran goalkeeper Vozinha was the breakout star due to his stunning performance against Spain – a match which saw him go from an unknown player to a viral sensation with his Instagram following boosted from 50,000 before the tournament started to more than 27million. Speaking to CBS News after their exit, the 40-year-old goalie said: “In Cape Verde, we love welcoming people. We can cook outside our homes and eat together in the street. Now I can’t always do that anymore. But I’m happy because before, whenever we said we were from Cape Verde, people would ask, ‘Where is that?’ Now they know our country. I think that’s the best thing that could happen.” Wise words, and the data proves it, as growing interest in the islands as a holiday destination has increased, with searches for 'Cape Verde' reportedly surging by +5,000 per cent. BEST: UEFA rebels Regarding the aforementioned commercial breaks – sorry, hydration breaks - the governing body of European football stated they were ruling them out, confirming that there were no plans to deviate from the traditional uninterrupted two halves for the Champions League and the 2028 European Championships. UEFA also made its opposition to FIFA very clear regarding the barring of Omar Artan and has expressed concern over the Balogun red card incident. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin endorsed a statement accusing Infantino and FIFA of crossing "a red line". Speaking of which... WORST: The Trump card scandal If you get a red card at the World Cup, you miss the next game... Unless Donald Trump steps in. The outcry regarding the controversial move by FIFA to lift the ban given to the US team's star striker Folarin Balogun, following a call by Trump to Gianni Infantino, was this World Cup's biggest sporting controversy. Balogun was set to sit out the knockout clash against Belgium after receiving a red card for stepping on the foot of Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemovic. One phone call later, and it seemed like Trump was calling the shots. "Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. This did not go down well. “Shame on you! When money calls the shots, the World Cup loses all credibility,” the Belgium Socialist party stated. “Adapting the rules to please Trump, trying to cheat to win - what a deplorable image for FIFA, for the soccer World Cup, and for the United States. Rules must be respected by everyone, in sports as in life.” The reactions went viral, FIFA was given a new acronym ('Fix It For America'), and there were even calls to boycott the upcoming game. Thankfully, karma prevailed as Belgium thrashed the US team 4-1. This led many to wonder whether Donald Trump was a sporting curse, and the memes that followed Belgium's victory delighted football fans the world over. As did a certain social media post from the Belgian Red Devils official X account, which simply read: "Overturn this." BEST: The Haaland obsession Erling Haaland - dubbed 'The Striking Viking' - became THE standout player of this year's World Cup. Not just for his performances on the pitch as Norway's MVP, but for all his behind-the-scenes antics. From his rowing celebration, general good-natured demeanour and willingness not to take himself too seriously, the player was a breath of fresh air which delighted the internet. He became a veritable social media obsession, with favourites including his continued bromance with England's Jude Bellingham, a resurfaced rap video which rapidly went viral, and the taxidermy raccoon souvenir he brought back from the US. More of him please. BEST: The Wonderwall effect Goodbye 'Sweet Caroline'. Adieu 'Vindaloo' (shudder). This year saw England fans singing Oasis' 'Wonderwall'. The band's hit song became the unofficial anthem for England's World Cup campaign and whether you supported the team or not, the echo of the mass singalongs through stadiums and fan zones was a joy. It first happened on 17 June in Dallas Stadium, after England’s win against Croatia 4-2. Fans started singing; England players Jude Bellingham and Anthony Gordon were seen mouthing the lyrics; and England captain Harry Kane said: “That was one of my favourite ever moments in an England shirt, especially at a major tournament." As a result from its World Cup fan embrace, ‘Wonderwall’ re-entered the UK singles chart and Spotify shared that streams also shot up. In a statement, they wrote: “Spotify can reveal that the 1995 classic has experienced a resurgence, with a spike in listening of 50% in the UK – a huge lift considering the existing streams and fanbase for such an iconic and enduring song.” Shame it couldn't last, as it's not coming home this year... And Mick Jagger knows it. WORST: The Argentina problem Supporting Argentina has become increasingly problematic this year, as the team and their fans have gone viral for all the wrong reasons. The team may be through to final after defeating England 2-1, but anyone who has been online has noticed that many are rooting against the defending champions. Fans have been called out for their racist chants, with one video leading FIFA to open an investigation for abuse. Popular streamer IShowSpeed, who is Black, was livestreaming from a match, was told by an Argentina fan to “go cry to the zoo”. FIFA said in a statement: "FIFA was made aware of an incident involving a supporter and #IShowSpeed at Miami Stadium during the Argentina vs Cabo Verde match on 3 July 2026 and immediately initiated an investigation." Elsewhere, many fans have also embraced the conspiracy theory that FIFA has been fixing the tournament in Argentina's favour - especially after their quarter-final game against Egypt. Egypt were leading, had a goal controversially disallowed, and the request for video review of an Argentina goal was denied. Egypt coach Hossam Hassan said, "It’s all about money," adding: “They want Messi to stay in the tournament. In football, many things happen off the pitch because of interests. What happened was unfair. Egypt deserved to qualify. We were the better team." To make matters worse, Argentina players held up a banner that read "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" ("The Falklands are Argentine") during their post-match celebration against England. Argentina could face disciplinary action and a fine for violating FIFA rules banning political messaging on the pitch. The latest controversy taking social media by storm? Many are pointing out that Benjamin Netanyahu said during a recent podcast appearance that he is backing Argentina to win the World Cup, while Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich posted on X moments after the final whistle of the England v Argentina game: "I indeed cannot enter Britain because I am exterminating the idea of the Palestinian state, but two goals got in nicely." Essentially, you'll find a lot of people rooting for Spain during the final on Sunday. BEST: Lamine Yamal's little brother Keyne To end on a more joyful note, the latest viral sensation has been Spanish footballer Lamine Yamal's baby brother, Kenye. The three-year-old has been making a huge impact online, as he has often been seen cheering on his brother, shouting 'vamos', and even blowing kisses at the camera. A star is born. Hola! Magazine put it best: "This time around, the biggest sensation of the competition isn’t an athlete, the goals, or even the trophy itself... It’s Keyne, Lamine Yamal’s three-year-old brother, who’s taking the tournament by storm with his hilarious moments.” Keyne has previously been seen with his older sibling on the pitch after Spain won the 2024 European Championship, and it seems like there's no end to how charismatic this child can be. With Spain facing Argentina this Sunday, it's safe to say that Keyne will grab some more headlines (and hearts) before the competition is over.